Embankment-protector.



R. ToENNEs. l EMBANKMBNT PROTECTOR. APPLIUATION FILED IEB. 24. 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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l' l mm L 'fil Patented May 2, 1911.

11. Towns. EMBANKMENT PROTECTOR. APPLICATION FILED FEB.24, 1911.

1991,041. l Patented may 2, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

,BICI-IARD TOENNES, OF BOONVILLE, MISSOURI.

EIKBANKMENT-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed February 24, 1911. Serial No. 61,536.

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD TonNNns, a wcitizen of the United States, residing at 0'f'Boonville, in the county of Cooper and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and luseful Improvements in Einbankment-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in embankment protectors and has for its particular object to provide such a device that will eifectually prevent the washing away of river banks.

Another object is to provide a construction in which concrete blocks are used for the protector and to so form said blocks that they can be readily strung upon wire supports.

A further object is to simplify the manner of placing said protector in position.

These and other objects set forth in the following specification, are attained by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating a section of the protector in position against an embankment, and the means for placing same in position. Fig. 9. is an enlarged plan view of a portion of said protector showing how the blocks are placed upon the wire supports. Fig. 3 is an edge view of several of the blocks showing their position upon the wires. Fig. l is a perspective view of one of the blocks looking at the top thereof. Fig. 5 is a similar View looking at the bottom side. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of one of said blocks. Fig. 7 is a view showing how the protector is supported where a washout occurs in the bank, and Fig. 8 is a plan view showing how the supporting piles are placed across a washout.

Similar reference numerals in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

In the present embodimentof the invention, particularly formed concrete blocks 9 are strung upon a series of parallel wires 10 above the water level and when a .predeterw mined section has been formed, the same is allowed to assume its position against the embankment to be protected both above and below the water level. The wires 10 are held in parallel relation by means hereinafter described, and the blocks are placed one by one upon said wires, said blocks being provided with means for Stringing them upon the wires and means for interlocking each other, as follows: The blocks are preferably rectanguiar, having a smooth upper surface 11, and a grooved underside 12. The grooves 13 extend from one side of the block to 'the other and are inclined toward each other, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, so that the mouths of said grooves are closer together than their tops. Said blocks are provided with horizontal grooves 1li around tnwo sides, and ribs l5 around the remaining sides, thus, when the blocks are assembled the ribs will lit into the grooves of the adjacent blocks.

To form the protector a boat 16 is provided, upon which is mounted a series of reels of wire 1T, and upon the river bank is planted a post 18, from which is suspended a cable 19, upon the end of which is secured a suitable anchor 20, thereby forming an anchor for the ends of the wires lO. Said wires 10 are drawn from the reels 17, passed along the deck of the boat, under and over rollers Q1 and 22 mounted in suitable bearings fixed to a rail or support 23 upon the stern, and from said rail extend in parallel relation and are secured to said anchored cable 19. The rail or support is provided with a. suitable bench 211, from which the workmen can thread or string the blocks upon the wires. In placing the blocks upon the wires, the operator grasps two wires and draws them together, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, until the mouths of the slots 13 slip over said wires, then the wires are released and the blocks settle to the tops of the grooves; and the blocks are moved along to the assembled mass, until a sufficient section is completed when it is allowed to settle into position and the boat moved farther along to form another section. The blocks are positioned and staggered in vertical rows, those in one row being threaded upon the wires which pass through the two blocks of the previously laid row, and as seen in Fig. 3, it is impossible to remove any block from the assembled construction back of the front row, owing to the grooves of the blocks in one row, upon the same wire, being inclined in a different direction from those in adjacent rows.

Tie and reinforcing wires 25 are shown embedded in the blocks, said wires having their ends extended outside, one of which is formed into a loop Q6, whereby, as the blocks are assembled those in the same row can be tied together. This is especially advantageous at the ends of the rows where one half blocks are used, to prevent the same from being displaced from their supporting wires, as they have only one groove and cannot be locked in position as can the whole blocks with two grooves.

In protectors ot' this character it is desirable to lay them in as straight a line as possible, and to avoid turning short corners where the embankment is uneven or has washed away, the following means have been provided. At the point of the uneven bank a row of vertical piles 9.6 are placed extending across the mouth of said washout, and which support inclined piles 27, thus forming an inclined support for the protector across said washout. Said washout will gradually fill and form a continuation of the straight embankment.

From the foregoing it will be observed that a continuous chain of protector is provided, the blocks of which are locked upon their wire supports, interconnected, and tied to each other and easily constructed.

It will be understood that the tie wires 25 can be omitted excepting at the edges when one-halt blocks are used.

rfhe horizontal grooves and ribs around the blocks can be of other shapes in cross section than the V-shaped shown, without detriment to the invention.

It is obvious that the protector can be laid in a perpendicular position as well as inclined. Also, while it is preferred to use the horizontal grooves 14, and ribs l5, they can be omitted.

Vhat is claimed is:

l. An embankment protector formed in a continuous chain extending longitudinally of the bank, comprising a series of longitudinally extending wires, and concrete blocks having inclined grooves across one face through which said wires pass.

2. An embankment protector formed in a continuous chain extending longitudinally of the bank, comprising a series of longituj dinally extending wires, and concrete blocks having inclined grooves through which said wires pass, said grooves inclining toward the outer edges of the blocks.

3. An embankment protector formed in a continuous chain extending longitudinally of the bank, comprising a series of longitudinally extending wires, and concrete blocks threaded thereon, said blocks having inclined grooves to fit over said wires and horizontal grooves and ribs therearound for the purpose specified.

4. An embankment protector formed in a continuous chain extending longitudinally of the bank, comprising a series of longitudinally extending wires, concrete blocks threaded thereon in vertical rows, the blocks in one row locking the blocks in the adjacent rows to said wires, and tie wires for said blocks.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD TOENNES.

i/Vitnesses GEORGE VIESTEL, F. D. DRAFFEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

